And before you flame me with your "it's only 2 games!" crap, let me explain -

Labarbera is not an NHL goaltender. He is not capable of performing as a number one goaltender night in and night out against the best competition in the world. It should be of no surprise that he performs admirably in the AHL, where the game isn't as fast as it is in the NHL.

His lateral movement is terrible. He is extremely slow going post to post. He tends to fall on his stomach in scrambles and therefore leaves himself way out of position and unable to recover for rebounds. He is a big guy, but somehow makes himself small in net (mostly by being too deep in his net).

I have been saying this guy isn't the answer to the Kings' problems in net since he played his first pre-season game for us and it became more clear to me than ever today where once again, every single shot against him had myself and the 6 other people watching the game with me thinking he was going to be scored on. EverySingleShot. And if fans feel that way about him, imagine how his team feels.

I'll agree to this but what are the king's options right now, seriously? It is definately an interesting situation. I think with his performance today they are almost forced to keep up Bernier and keep on switching between the two. The kings have played a whole season with Dan Cloutier.. LaBarbara can not be worse

Posts like this are all over and drive me crazy. It is a very common practice to play different goalies in back to back games.

Yup, can't for the life of me understand why anyone would be stupid enough to play a goalie in back to back games this early in the season....

But add me to the list of the anti-Labarbera club.

I really just don't understand what his problem is. He knows this could be the last real chance he has of not only making a NHL roster but being a starter! And what does he do? Have a horrible terrible training camp and simply look unprepared.

I guess all that talk about how he needed to grow up and learn how to be professional was right... Because he certianlly isn't their now and maybe he lost his shot because of it.

And before you flame me with your "it's only 2 games!" crap, let me explain -

Labarbera is not an NHL goaltender. He is not capable of performing as a number one goaltender night in and night out against the best competition in the world. It should be of no surprise that he performs admirably in the AHL, where the game isn't as fast as it is in the NHL.

His lateral movement is terrible. He is extremely slow going post to post. He tends to fall on his stomach in scrambles and therefore leaves himself way out of position and unable to recover for rebounds. He is a big guy, but somehow makes himself small in net (mostly by being too deep in his net).

I have been saying this guy isn't the answer to the Kings' problems in net since he played his first pre-season game for us and it became more clear to me than ever today where once again, every single shot against him had myself and the 6 other people watching the game with me thinking he was going to be scored on. EverySingleShot. And if fans feel that way about him, imagine how his team feels.

Bottom line - he's an AHL Goaltender at best. 'Nuff said.

Is the sky falling too?

Umm...the Kings have their answer in Bernier. Labby is an adequate backup.

Kings Fans - How did Cloutier get the name Beachball? I think its hilarious.

What a ridiculous thread. He has played one game, and a game in which he didnt receive much help from his team. None of the goals against him tonight were really his fault at all, but the result of poor defensive play and giveaways. Take a chill pill and wait for a slightly larger sample size before taking the pitchforks and torches out of the closet.

And before you flame me with your "it's only 2 games!" crap, let me explain -

Labarbera is not an NHL goaltender. He is not capable of performing as a number one goaltender night in and night out against the best competition in the world. It should be of no surprise that he performs admirably in the AHL, where the game isn't as fast as it is in the NHL.

His lateral movement is terrible. He is extremely slow going post to post. He tends to fall on his stomach in scrambles and therefore leaves himself way out of position and unable to recover for rebounds. He is a big guy, but somehow makes himself small in net (mostly by being too deep in his net).

I have been saying this guy isn't the answer to the Kings' problems in net since he played his first pre-season game for us and it became more clear to me than ever today where once again, every single shot against him had myself and the 6 other people watching the game with me thinking he was going to be scored on. EverySingleShot. And if fans feel that way about him, imagine how his team feels.

Bottom line - he's an AHL Goaltender at best. 'Nuff said.

Would you rather have Cloutier back?

He is a #1. Besides, it's only two games that were played half way around the world.

What a ridiculous thread. He has played one game, and a game in which he didnt receive much help from his team. None of the goals against him tonight were really his fault at all, but the result of poor defensive play and giveaways. Take a chill pill and wait for a slightly larger sample size before taking the pitchforks and torches out of the closet.

Tell me, what exactly has he proven in his three training camps with the Kings?

I really just don't understand what his problem is. He knows this could be the last real chance he has of not only making a NHL roster but being a starter! And what does he do? Have a horrible terrible training camp and simply look unprepared.

I guess all that talk about how he needed to grow up and learn how to be professional was right... Because he certianlly isn't their now and maybe he lost his shot because of it.

He may not win the Vezina, but he's part of our 3-man tandem. Might as well support the guy and hope for the best instead of calling for his head after every loss.

I'm sure Bernier and Aubin will get their games too. We'll have a better picture of the odd man out after 10-15 games.

EDIT: I would also like to point out that his style does indeed look uncomfortable, but that isn't a bad thing. He's not your typical butterfly goaltender from Quebec. He plays a much more stand-up style, which isn't as fluid or "crisp" looking as a Bernier/Garon/Huet type netminder. So don't worry too much when he starts acting goofy. He has his own style, and as people have mentioned...it works pretty well.

Tell me, what exactly has he proven in his three training camps with the Kings?

Didn't he win 8 of the first 9 games he started in 2005? Wasn't he like top-3 in the league during that time, and very good until he had some bad news in his personal life? And didn't he finish that year, after some terrible times everybody will admit it, on a very positive note, with two victories in his last two games, shuting out the Sharks in his last, and maintaining a S% of close to .990 in his last three? .975 in his last four?

I don't know about what he didn't prove in his training camps with the Kings, but to me he proved he could play in this league,... you know, during the hockey season.